"The Other Swedes"
~ Honoring Them and Their Works ~
~ Honoring Them and Their Works ~
His Majesty, Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden
~ Honoring him in Lindsborg and at Bethany College,1976
~ Honoring him in Lindsborg and at Bethany College,1976
- Bethany College President Dr. Arvin W. Hahn & Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf -
April 17, 1976
the day before Easter
- click on photograph to go to that day -
Source: The Bethany Magazine, Spring Issue 1976, Editor A. John Pearson, Assistant Estred Johnson Schwantes. Cover photo by Jim Turner of Jim Turner Photography
Above: The day when King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden visited Lindsborg and Bethany College, the day before Easter, April 17, 1976. The King is in the center. To his right are Bethany College President Dr. Arvin W. Hahn, current Kansas Governor Robert F. Bennett and former Kansas Governor Robert Docking; to his left is a Kansas State Trooper.
On that day King Carl XVI Gustaf personally honored three (3) Lindsborg Swedes at Bethany by knighting current and eighth Bethany College President Dr. Arvin Hahn, fourth Bethany College President Dr. Emory Lindquist and absentee Bethany College Graduate Dr. Arthur W. Lindquist.
On that day King Carl XVI Gustaf personally honored three (3) Lindsborg Swedes at Bethany by knighting current and eighth Bethany College President Dr. Arvin Hahn, fourth Bethany College President Dr. Emory Lindquist and absentee Bethany College Graduate Dr. Arthur W. Lindquist.
- T H E W E L C O M E -
Bethany College President Dr. Arvin Hahn Welcomes King Carl XVI Gustaf
Your Majesty, Honorable Governor, Ladies and Gentlemen . . .
Bethany College and the Lindsborg Community are pleased to welcome you to this festive occasion.
For many decades the pre-Easter season has been a time of special activity in and around Lindsborg since preparation for the Messiah Festival contains months of diligent rehearsal. Initial activities this year, however, on the part of both the community and the Oratorio Society has taken on extraordinary excitement. The reason is that in this Bicentennial year of our nation's history, Bethany College and Lindsborg relish the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of commemorating both its Christian and its ethnic heritage in one unusual event.
Since 1882, the performance of the Messiah on this campus has been more than a grandiose musical affair. It has been a deep expression of the faith that is within the hearts and minds of those who will and have performed before you today. A faith clearly and simply dedicated to the belief in the Risen Christ who is Lord of All. It is, therefore, with reflections about our Christian heritage that we join together to listen and to sing songs of praise and adoration to the Christ who is our King of Kings.
During our nation's Bicentennial Year, it is appropriate that we remind ourselves of the significance of ethnic heritage and its contribution to our societal enrichment. It is this contact with the past that adds understanding and appreciation for the distinctive contributions of the Swedish people, as well as of contributions of others who have differing heritages.
Your Majesty's presence provides unusual credence in underlining the significance of heritage with an acknowledgment of its impact upon many of the ways of this community.
We rejoice in your majesty's presence today, and want hereby to express our gratitude for the opportunity to join with you King Carl XVI Gustaf in praising the God who gave His Son that all of us might enjoy both freedom and equality in His Presence.
Thank you.
Bethany College and the Lindsborg Community are pleased to welcome you to this festive occasion.
For many decades the pre-Easter season has been a time of special activity in and around Lindsborg since preparation for the Messiah Festival contains months of diligent rehearsal. Initial activities this year, however, on the part of both the community and the Oratorio Society has taken on extraordinary excitement. The reason is that in this Bicentennial year of our nation's history, Bethany College and Lindsborg relish the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of commemorating both its Christian and its ethnic heritage in one unusual event.
Since 1882, the performance of the Messiah on this campus has been more than a grandiose musical affair. It has been a deep expression of the faith that is within the hearts and minds of those who will and have performed before you today. A faith clearly and simply dedicated to the belief in the Risen Christ who is Lord of All. It is, therefore, with reflections about our Christian heritage that we join together to listen and to sing songs of praise and adoration to the Christ who is our King of Kings.
During our nation's Bicentennial Year, it is appropriate that we remind ourselves of the significance of ethnic heritage and its contribution to our societal enrichment. It is this contact with the past that adds understanding and appreciation for the distinctive contributions of the Swedish people, as well as of contributions of others who have differing heritages.
Your Majesty's presence provides unusual credence in underlining the significance of heritage with an acknowledgment of its impact upon many of the ways of this community.
We rejoice in your majesty's presence today, and want hereby to express our gratitude for the opportunity to join with you King Carl XVI Gustaf in praising the God who gave His Son that all of us might enjoy both freedom and equality in His Presence.
Thank you.
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Following Dr. Hahn's speech was the Ambassador from Sweden speaking for the King who had laryngitis.
To view the whole program, click the arrow below.
Published by the late Lindsborg Smoky Valley Historical Association President Chris Abercrombie on May 29, 2014.
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Seven weeks later, on Sunday, June 6, 1976, "National Day of Sweden" the Swedish Crown also recognized an additional group of Swedes in Lindsborg continuing with Royal Medal presentations by Chicago's Consul General of Sweden, the Honorable Karl H. Andersson who presented Gold Medals to Bicentennial Committee co-chairpersons Hugo Lindahl and Mrs. Edith Dahlsten, adviser Mrs. Irva Brandt, and Mayor John F. Riggs, Jr.; and Silver Medals to Professor Elmer Copley for the Presser Hall "heritage program" showcasing Messiah renditions by the nearly 500 person Bethany College Oratorio Society; and other gifts, for their preparatory parts before and during the King's visit of April 17th, to Mrs. Annamae Ahlstedt, Mrs. Alba Malm Almquist, Mrs. Becky Anderson, Carl B. Anderson, Jr., Mrs. Margaret Sandzén Greenough, Mrs. Judie Hahn, Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg, Pastor Roy F. Molander, Howard Patrick, and A. John Pearson. (Source: A. John Pearson of Bethany College Magazine, Spring 1976)
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His Majesty's Bethany Home Visit
His Majesty's Bethany Home Visit
Also on this April 17, 1976 in Lindsborg, the King made a very special visit to Bethany Home to visit with nine (9) Swedes there whose birthplace was Sweden. Bill Carlson, retired Administrator of Bethany Home, wrote a 40 year remembrance of this once-in-a-lifetime experience of this 40 anniversary in 2016. To read it, please go HERE.
The Swedish Kings who honored Lindsborg Bethany Swedes in the past were these:
Gustaf V (1907-1950), Oscar II (1872-1907), Gustaf VI Adolf (1950-1973)
Source: Emma Deere's Post Card to Emil O. Deere
King of Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf
( 1973-- )
Source: 2013 EuroHistory.com
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Bethany College President Arvin Hahn
Conclusions of the Bicentennial Year with the King of Sweden's Visit
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
